Friday night was, in a way, far from ordinary for the Manhattan High boys basketball team.

After all, it was without two players — starting shooting guard Tommy Ekart and rotation man Ian Trapp, both out with injuries — and the squad had not played in nearly a week, when it strangled its way to a road win over Emporia.

But it another way it was, in fact, ordinary. Because the Indians won again.

This time, it was a 68-41 trouncing of Topeka West on the road, to improve to a near-spotless 13-1 on the season.

And Manhattan did it the only way it knows how: sending the game into a furious tempo with steals and fast breaks, and, by way of its smothering defense, grabbing a stranglehold on the Chargers’ offense.

It’s an offense spearheaded by senior 6-5 forward Jordan Newby, who entered Friday averaging a shade over 19 points per game. His 16 contributed to Topeka West’s 41, the second-least Manhattan has allowed this season, and head coach Benji George was satisfied with the effort he saw on the defensive end, including the effort on Newby.

“We just got done commending the guys for the fact that they pay attention to scouting reports probably as good as any group we’ve coached. They were very aware of where [Newby] was at all times; they were very aware of different actions that they try to run to get him looks,” he said. “We did a great job of rebounding; that was huge, because they weren’t getting offensive putbacks. I was really, really pleased with where we were defensively tonight.”

Where the Indians were defensively, in part, stemmed from their 32-20 advantage in the rebounding category Friday night, which, aside from preventing second chances, opened the door for more transition opportunities.

Though rebounding has proved one of the Indians’ few blemishes this season, it was not against the Chargers. And George recognized it.

“It’s been the one chink in our armor that we’re below, consistently, our goals, and all that. But it hasn’t been that way the last few games,” he said. “So if we can shore up the rebounding and continue to beat teams on the boards, then we’re that much more unbeatable.”

The rebounding duties were handled primarily by seniors Grant Munsen and Christian Carmichael, the latter of whom brought both the gym and his team’s bench to hysteria when he slammed down a vigorous alley-oop early in the third quarter. The oop was initiated by senior Gabe Awbrey.

“We just kind of locked eyes,” Carmichael, who totaled 12 points, said. “I was open, and my man didn’t get back on defense yet, so Gabe threw it up, and I went to go get it, and it worked out well.

“The Newby kid had got one, so I had to come back and get one too.”

After entering halftime with a 32-16 advantage, the connection put the Indians up 36-19. But it was the bench energy, which reached an apex in the immediate aftermath of Carmichael’s vicious slam, that George said also provided a lift.

“We really pride ourselves on bench energy, celebrating each other’s success, and our guys have taken such great ownership in that,” George said. “They love bringing energy from the bench, and as many road games we play this year, we knew that was going to be key for us. And it’s an overlooked part of it, but our enthusiasm from the bench has been great.”

The bench triggered vitality, but given the absences of Ekart and Trapp, it also was crucial on the court. Senior Robbie Ostermann started in Ekart’s place, and senior Zach Francis and junior Luke Saville saw more playing time than usual.

Ostermann tallied 10 points, and while Francis and Saville posted just three apiece, George said his message in the absence of Ekart and Trapp applied to the entire team.

“It was everybody; we had to have a next-man-up mentality,” George said. “Everybody had to do a little bit more. It wasn’t going to be any one guy filling that role.”

Saville and Ostermann both canned triples to open the second quarter, and after Munsen connected on a foul-line jumper, the Indians’ lead was up to 26-9.

A few minutes later, Newby threw down a mirror image of Carmichael’s dunk, though Newby’s led to a boisterous gym, more so than what Carmichael’s generated. It appeared the Chargers would come storming back.

But they did not, as Topeka West turned it over on its ensuing possession, and junior Trevor Hudgins, as part of his 13-point night, finished the half with two breakway baskets.

Ostermann’s second three of the contest put his team up 39-19 late in the third stanza, and the Indians marched into the fourth with a 42-25 advantage.

The final period was slower than the first three, but Manhattan connected on 10-of-13 free throws to put the nail — though it may not have been necessary — in the coffin.

The Indians, now back on track with the standard Tuesday-Friday game schedule, travel to Shawnee Heights on Tuesday for a matchup with the Thunderbirds, who are fresh off a win over Emporia.

The Indians, though, retain first place in the Centennial League with the win, and Carmichael said the ride has been a fun one.

“It’s fun; we’re having a good time,” he said. “We go out there every night, and we play as a team; we just have fun, having a good time as a family.”